Asia spending billions on tutors: study
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KSP:
Back to this article, the finding for Singapore is in $$$, they should give an indication of % of students like other countries. Also, enrichment and tuition should be differentiated. To be candid, such articles only prompt the tuition centres to work harder because they realise out of $680M, they are getting only a small fraction, so unless they go by the % of children on TUITION, the problem is still not well-defined.http://sg.news.yahoo.com/asia-spending-billions-tutors-study-223633801.html
Asian parents are spending billions of dollars on private tutors for their children, and the practice is growing despite doubts over its effectiveness, according to a study published Wednesday.
\"Shadow education\" is an expanding business not only in wealthy countries but also in some of the region's poorer nations as parents try to give their children the best start in life, the Asian Development Bank said.
Nearly nine out of 10 South Korean elementary pupils have private tutoring, while the figure for primary school children in India's West Bengal state is six out of 10.
\"Proportions are lower in other countries, but throughout the region the shadow is spreading and intensifying,\" the study said, calling for a review of education systems to make such extra teaching less attractive.
Extra academic work is aimed at helping slow learners and supporting high achievers, and is seen by many Asian parents as a constructive way for adolescents to spend their spare time.
However, it can also reduce time for sports and other activities important for well-rounded development, as well as cause social tensions since richer families are able to pay for better-quality tutoring, the study said.
It estimated that the costs of private tutoring in South Korea were equivalent to 80 percent of government spending on public education.
Japan spent $12 billion on extra teaching in 2010, while the figure for Singapore was US$680 million in 2008.
In Hong Kong, where 85 percent of senior secondary students receive tutoring, companies advertise the services of \"star\" tutors, on television, newspapers and the back of buses, the study said.
\"Expenses are lower in other countries, but they are headed in the same direction,\" it added.
But despite its popularity, particularly in East Asia, tutoring has had mixed results, said the study, conducted with the University of Hong Kong's Comparative Education Research Centre.
\"Much depends not only on the motivations and abilities of the students but also on the motivations and abilities of the tutors,\" it said.
\"In many countries, individuals can become tutors without training, and the effectiveness of some forms of tutoring is doubtful.\"
The study called for state supervision and regulation of the industry, as well as a review of Asia's educational systems.
\"They should ask why it (tutoring) exists in the first place, and what can be done in the mainstream to make supplementary tutoring less desirable and necessary.\" -
cherryc:
Based on the interviews, certainly there is a problem..no doubt about that, however, hope the media can help to dig concrete evidence like that of South Korean, 9 out of 10 kids, to define the problem clearly. $680M may be spent mainly on enrichment and not tuition.Lilac66 : It seems people read what they only want to read. I thought this article supports Limlim and camp's arguments well, doesn't it?
Most kids cannot do without tuition, like one said \"Without the tuition classes, I don't think I'd be able to cope with my school work\", she had an aggregate of 200. This girl's family isn't well-off, don't you think it'll be a strain on the family's finances and probably thwart the parents' retirement plans when so much is spent on 1 child.What is they have more than one? Won't it slowly evolve into a social problem?And for those who can't afford tutors, will they fall off the curve? I still think it's a major problem for kids who are struggling with schoolwork (without parents being able to help) and yet cannot afford a good tutor.
One commented that even though he can't afford tuition but \"The teachers in my school are good and they are willing to help\". So if most teachers are like his, the need for tuition may be reduced.
Another social implication as well \" cause social tensions since richer families are able to pay for better-quality tutoring,\"
\"Tuition centres, however, serve to create \"anxiety\" in parents, Associate Professor Straughan believes\" says it all.
Finally, as mentioned many times, tuition is not an evil, but when the majority has to have it to tackle pri sch syllabus , then something needs to be done.
Hope we won't go the way Seoul does. btw, I suspect if the children polled are pri-sch kids, the percentage could be higher.
Last edited by Lilac66 on 11 Jul 2012 11:47, edited 1 time in total.
Hi Lilac66,
Fully supported yr views! I was about to write and highlight almost the SAME phrases from the article as you did but was hindered by my iPhone ! Yah, strange that different people emphasised different concerns from the same article !!
I'm quite worried about the lower income group forking out their hard earned money or working hard to pay for tuition , the money can go so much to improve their standard of living.
Another point was the IP students going for tuitions to stay afloat or ahead. The school curriculum is accelerated and more depth and breadth added but some kids told me they go tuition as they are taught more systemically in tuition centers . These are definitely not your weaker students and I wonder why can't they do it themselves ? I have heard of tuition centres who have dedicated classes for each IP schools .
I have met another extreme case recently , one Chinese boy in IP school with sparkling eyes and came from China in lower primary . I asked him of his primary school scores and he said Maths, Science and Chinese almost full marks most of the time , English 80s, no tuition , no parental guidance and from one of the neighbourhood primary schools . During holidays , go back China and catch frogs and keep grandparents company . When I look at him , I really what has happened along the way for us to be here arguing this topic. Of course, if he is schooling in China now, he will be bombarded with lots of tuitions to prepare his gakao.
Amidst the yawns and Sians, I think the 2 camps will never see each other's point of views based on their experiences so probably we should have A thread and B thread for this topic......................! -
Indeed, WE all read what WE want to read.
That is why the English language is so complicated because interpretation can be subjective.
:celebrate: -
oxyleo:
I can see your point and agree with your recommendation. In doing so, it improves the quality of education service providers and perhaps reduce some of them who cannot qualify so this raises our STANDARD of education. Will it reduce the demand for tuition? It may cause the qualified ones to expand their operations and make them richer. Just a thought - for discussion.
Hi ksi,
Yes \"regulation\" is a very broad word, so perhaps we can narrow it down to something softer, lighter, and along the principle of self-regulation, so to speak. I'm thinking more along the lines of an association, with members made up by the tuition centres and individual tutors. The association gets some funding, if deemed appropriate, by MOE, which then co-assists the association's lead members in sharing and encouraging best practices, offers certification etc
Take a look at the role/mission/ code of practice adopted by these two associations for banks and retailers respectively, in Singapore:
http://www.abs.org.sg/aboutus_management.php
http://www.retail.org.sg/
What we have then is a promotion of best practices across members- the tuition agencies and tutors, and a soft approach towards encouraging a code of practices. Some good practices, like not Misrepresenting/ falsifying claims, with slightly more definition, can be applied to Tuition centres.
In fact, the tuition industry may also mirror what is carried out in the broader business world. Businesses get recognized for doing their part in the area of Corporate Social responsibility , and are awarded by business associations. The aim of this is to remind organizations to not just focus on profit and numbers, but also to contribute to the greater good. In education, a good educator embraces 有教无类, which means the willingness to teach anyone who is willing to learn. This tuition association could certainly recognize and give awards/ accolades to tutors/ tuition centres who teach not just high achieving/ gep kids, but also the needy for free/ at subsidized rates, and teach all categories of children, vs those that only want to teach the creme ala creme. (Ahem)
Let's remember that the users of the tuition centres are mere children, some starting as young as 2-3 years of age and upwards. If there is any other place that requires service providers to be exemplary in good practices, the tuition industry ought to be one of them.
Swim/ sports coaches themselves join the Singapore Sports Council for certification, I believe. Not sure if it's mandatory though. I recall years back when a swim coach was tried in court for something along the lines of molestation/indecency, some parents, who had children learning under this coach, queried as to why he was allowed to continue teaching when he was already under investigation. It was then discovered that he was not certified unde SSC, which would otherwise have flagged him out (assuming no admin hiccups). -
cherryc:
The point is to share views, it is perfectly fine to disagree for whatever reasons. And we can always agree to disagree. Yes some can get really passionate about their own views and that is what makes a forum interesting. What is the point of sharing views if we want to hear only supporting views or like views, we do not learn much from those, we do not get to see the other side of the coin.
Fully supported yr views! I was about to write and highlight almost the SAME phrases from the article as you did but was hindered by my iPhone ! Yah, strange that different people emphasised different concerns from the same article !!
I'm quite worried about the lower income group forking out their hard earned money or working hard to pay for tuition , the money can go so much to improve their standard of living.
Another point was the IP students going for tuitions to stay afloat or ahead. The school curriculum is accelerated and more depth and breadth added but some kids told me they go tuition as they are taught more systemically in tuition centers . These are definitely not your weaker students and I wonder why can't they do it themselves ? I have heard of tuition centres who have dedicated classes for each IP schools .
I have met another extreme case recently , one Chinese boy in IP school with sparkling eyes and came from China in lower primary . I asked him of his primary school scores and he said Maths, Science and Chinese almost full marks most of the time , English 80s, no tuition , no parental guidance and from one of the neighbourhood primary schools . During holidays , go back China and catch frogs and keep grandparents company . When I look at him , I really wonder what has happened along the way for us to be here arguing this topic. And I have not seen such brilliant and carefree kid for a long long time. Of course, if he is schooling in China now, he will be bombarded with lots of tuitions to prepare his gakao.
Amidst the yawns and Sians, I think the 2 camps will never see each other's point of views based on their experiences so probably we should have A thread and B thread for this topic......................!
Just another view that is different from yours.
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cherryc:
Zest for life. I like.
...one Chinese boy in IP school with sparkling eyes and came from China in lower primary . I asked him of his primary school scores and he said Maths, Science and Chinese almost full marks most of the time , English 80s, no tuition , no parental guidance and from one of the neighbourhood primary schools . During holidays , go back China and catch frogs and keep grandparents company ...
Study for life? Dislike. -
Funz : The point is to share views, it is perfectly fine to disagree for whatever reasons. And we can always agree to disagree. Yes some can get really passionate about their own views and that is what makes a forum interesting. What is the point of sharing views if we want to hear only supporting views or like views, we do not learn much from those, we do not get to see the other side of the coin.
Opposing and constructive views will challenge and perhaps ignite more creative solutions . What I’m wary of is the Yawns and Sians kind of remarks. Can u imagine in parliarment when one party said something, the other party started to yawn in his face and said "Siah ah, u repeating yourself again!" then it’s better off to have separate discussion .
In our case, one thread to study and discuss the phenomenon we are seeing Now and explore the economic costs, social implications and perhaps to find solutions to make the situation better so as not to bore thr people who don’t see there is any problems . While the other thread the satisfied parents can have carefree discussions on their happy experiences with the school systems , best practices they have seen, how well their kids are performing without tuitions, etc. -
3Boys:
We see things differently, and you are free to disagree with me.
So in lieu of data, MY anecdotal feel is that the schools are delivering far more content these days, and more effectively, then when I was schooling. For the same level of ability at entry, they are coming out with more knowledge and skills than in my day. That is MY data, and therefore, I don't see that there is a problem.limlim:
No Data doesn't mean it is not a problem.
Does the govt produce ANY data before CRA was set up? If you do not have a dept for that, how are you going to produce DATA?
pre-empt, or wait until the damage is beyond repair?
I am not talking about High intensity hot housing. I am concerned with the CORE education.
Like I said, those kiasu parent going for tuition for high scores, let them be.
We must ensure that core education program must not be negativity affected by the booming tuition industry. -
Oh dear …
Always thought this was an open forum …
The same subject matter keeps sprouting in new threads under different titles. If the passionate one(s) insist on reiterating their views and dismissing alternative ones, then please head back and revive the older threads and resume your argument from there. -
Busymom:
2 words, nanny state.
How can gambling and going for tuition be compared on the same basis? :?
One can become an addiction and potentially break up a family, the other... :scratchhead:
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